Mechanical Vibrations Two Degrees of Freedom Systems

 Influence Co-efficient i j  :

The influence co-efficient (αij) is defined as the static deflection of the system at point ‘i’ due to
a unit force applied at point ‘j’, when the unit force is the only force acting. Similarly, the influence
co-efficient (αji) is the static deflection of point ‘j’ due to unit force at point ‘i’.

ij
Deflection Load
position position

From Maxwell’s reciprocal theorem it can be shown that ij  =  ji 

 Maxwell’s Reciprocal Theorem:

Maxwell’s Reciprocal theorem states that the influence co-efficient ij  =  ji  . That is the
deflection at any point ‘i’ in the system due to a unit load acting at any other point ‘j’ is equal to the
deflection at point ‘j’ due to unit load at point ‘i’.

Proof:

Consider a simply supported beam with concentrated loads as shown in figure.

Let ‘i’ and ‘j’ be any two points in the system where loads Fi and Fj are acting on the system.
Now imagine that the loads Fi and Fj are applied to the system in the following two alternate ways.
1. First apply ‘Fi’ at point ‘i’, gradually from zero to its full value, then apply ‘Fj’ at point ‘j’
gradually from zero to its full value with Fi there at point ‘i’ all the time.
2. Reverse the order i.e., first apply ‘Fj’ at point j gradually and then ‘Fi’ at point ‘i’ gradually with
‘Fj’ there at point ‘j’ all the time.
1 1
Then the work done at point ‘i’   Fi   ii  Fi    Fi 2   ii
2 2
1
Similarly, when Force Fj is gradually applied at point ‘j’, the work done will be   F j 2   jj
2
But when force Fj is applied, the additional deflection at ‘i’ due to force ‘Fj’ is ij  Fj

Therefore workdone due to this additional deflection  Fi  ij Fj

1 2 1
⸫ The total workdone in the first mode is W .D 1  Fi  ii  F j 2 jj  Fi   ij F j
2 2

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1 2 1
Similarly, Workdone in the second mode is given by W .D 2  F j  jj  Fi 2 ii  F j   ji Fi
2 2
Since the total workdone in applying Fi and Fj to the system in either of the above two manners will
be same.
W .D 1  W .D 2
This yields
 ij   ji
 Determination of Influence Co-efficients:
Prob.1: Determine the influence co-efficients of the system shown in figure if K1=K, K2=2K and
K3=K.

OR m1 m2 m3

1. Apply unit load at point 1

1 F 1

load 1 1
Then the influence co-efficient 11    ( K1 =K )
Stiffness K1 K
Note that when unit load or unit force at point ‘1’ is applied , masses m2 and m3 moves downwards
by the same amount.
1
 21   31  11 
K

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2. Apply unit load at point 2

K2

2 F 1

load 1
Then the influence co-efficient  22  
Stiffness K eq
1 1 1 K  K2
   1
K eq K1 K 2 K1 K 2
1 K  K2
  22   1
K eq K1 K 2
K  2K 3 K 3
 22   2
 K
K  2K 2K 2
When unit load at ‘2’ is applied mass m3 moves by the same amount
3
 32   22  K
2
1
12   21  (Maxwell's reciprocal theorem)
K
2. Apply unit load at point 3

K2

K3

F 1
3

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Mechanical Vibrations Two Degrees of Freedom Systems

load 1
Then the influence co-efficient  33  
Stiffness K eq
1 1 1 1 K K  K1 K3  K1 K 2
    2 3
K eq K1 K 2 K3 K1 K 2 K3

  33 
 2 K  K    K   K    K  2 K   2 K 2  K 2  2 K 2
 K  2 K  K  2K 3
5 K 2 5
 33   K
2K 3 2
1
13   31 
K Maxwell’s Reciprocal Theorem
3
 23   32  K
2
1 1 
1
 11 12 13   K K K 
 
 Influence co  efficients,  ij =   21  22  23    1 3 K 3 K
 K 2 2 
 
 31  32  33   1 3 K 5 K 
 K 2 2 
Prob.2: Determine the influence co-efficients of the system shown in figure.

l1
θ1

m1

θ2 l2

m2
l3
θ3
m3

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Mechanical Vibrations Two Degrees of Freedom Systems

1. Apply unit force on mass m1 as shown in fig (a)

l1
θ1

T1 T1 cos 1 m1 F 1
θ1
T1 sin 1 11
F 1

m2
 m1  m2  m3  g
 21

m3
31
For equilibrium of mass m1 Fig.(a)

T1 sin 1  1 ----(a)

T1 cos 1   m1  m2  m3  g
T1   m1  m2  m3  g For small 1 cos1  1

Also from fig.(a)

11
Sin 1 
l1

Substitute for T1 and sinθ1 into eqn.(a)

11
 m1  m2  m3  g  1
l1
l1
11 
 m1  m2  m3  g
l1
Also,  21   31  11 
 m1  m2  m3  g
Also by Maxwell's reciprocal theorem
 21  12 and  31  13
l1
12  13 
 m1  m2  m3  g

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Mechanical Vibrations Two Degrees of Freedom Systems

2. Apply unit force on mass m2 as shown in fig (b)

l1
θ1

T2 T2 cos  2 m1
θ2 l2
12 θ2
T2sin 2 F 1
m2 F 1

 22
 m2  m3  g

m3

32
For equilibrium of mass m2 Fig.(b)
T2 sin  2  1 ----(b)

T2   m2  m3  g For small 2 cos2  1

Also from fig.(b)

 22  12
Sin  2 
l2
Substitute for T2 and sinθ2 into eqn.(b)
 22  12
 m2  m3  g  1
l2
l2
 22  12 
 m2  m3  g
l2
 22  12 
 m2  m3  g
l1
But 12   21 
 m1  m2  m3  g
l1 l2
  22  
 m1  m2  m3  g  m2  m3  g

Also  32   22 from fig.(b)

l1 l2
  32   22  
 m1  m2  m3  g  m2  m3  g

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Mechanical Vibrations Two Degrees of Freedom Systems

Also by Maxwell's reciprocal theorem

 32   23
l1 l2
 23  
 m1  m2  m3  g  m2  m3  g

3. Apply unit force on mass m3 as shown in fig (c)

l1
θ1

T3 T3 cos 3 m1
θ3 l2
13 θ2
T3sin3 F 1
m2

23 θ3 m3
F 1
m3 g

33

For equilibrium of mass m3 Fig.(c)

T3 sin 3  1 ----(c)

T3  m3g For small 3 cos3  1

Also from fig.(c)

33   23
Sin 3 
l3
Substitute for T3 and sinθ3 into eqn.(c)
 33   23
m3 g  1
l3
l3
  33   23 
m3 g
l3
 33   23 
m3 g

l1 l2
But  23   32  
 m1  m2  m3  g  m2  m3  g
l1 l2 l
  33    3
 m1  m2  m3  g  m2  m3  g m3 g

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